I have been asked to quote the full text of the three poems recently set to music by Maurice Verheul in his latest work "Triptych" (a recording of which is available on his personal MusicaNeo page).

In addition to "True Greatness" - which appears on my biographical page - the text of the other two poems are appended below:

THE POWER OF WORDS

What magic lies in simple words,

What music hides within:

How gently on the ear doth fall

The cadences that sing.

For words have life and nascent power

To live beyond man's mortal hour;

They rule the mind and sway the heart

Transfiguring life by their potent art.

Like ripened grapes full-crescive with wine,

They burst from their skins with nectar divine;

Or laden with filth and heavy with lies,

They stealthily poison until the soul dies.

But neither words nor pen alone,

Can strike the deep responsive tone,

For 'tis the spirit behind the quill

Which wields the sceptre at it's will.

Take care therefore, and ponder well

The words you choose to write,

For they, perchance, may rise like ghosts

And ruthlessly indict.

COMFORT

How lovely is the sudden smile,

Warm and friendly, enough to beguile

The coldest, saddest heart awhile:

"We're here together - you're not alone".

It brings a touch of glorious spring

To winter's dark, oppressive sting

When on bar bough a linnet sings:

"We're here together - you're not alone".